engraft

American  

[en-graft, -grahft] / ɛnˈgræft, -ˈgrɑft /

verb (used with object)

1. Horticulture. to insert, as a scion of one tree or plant into another, for propagation.

   to engraft a peach on a plum.

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verb (used without object)

1. Surgery. (of living tissue) to become grafted. graft.

engraft British  

/ ɪnˈɡrɑːft /

verb

1. to graft (a shoot, bud, etc) onto a stock

2. to incorporate in a firm or permanent way; implant

   they engrafted their principles into the document

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Other Word Forms

• engraftation noun
• engraftment noun

Etymology

Origin of engraft

First recorded in 1575–85; en- ¹ + graft ¹

Example Sentences

My sister had adopted kids, and other people I knew had adopted kids, but I just couldn’t imagine that it could feel so engrafting.

From The Verge

Morality was "engrafted onto this disease that they did not understand very well", Prof Olivarius said, a pattern that has endured.

From BBC

It requires toxic chemotherapy to kill some of a patient's natural T cells to make "space" for the new ones to engraft.

From Science Magazine

“She’s doing great. She was supposed to be in the hospital for about three months. She was engrafted, which means her body accepted the cells, and so she got sent home a month earlier.”

From Washington Times

There was fleeting evidence that the donated marrow cells had “engrafted” into the patient’s bones, but the patient had swiftly relapsed.

From The New Yorker

Related Words

• diffuse
• disseminate
• engender
• imbue
• impart
• inculcate
• inject
• inspire